Card documents



Sept. 26, 1967 R. A. BENSLER, sR.. ETAL CARD DOCUMENTS Filed Dec. 22,1965 3 Sheets-Sheet l OOOOOO vii-1 THE XYZ CORP. NEWYORK,'N,Y,

TO THE ORDER OF MO DAY JOHN DOE Y 1 STANDARD BANK 8i TRUST CO. NEW,YORK, NY.

AFIAFDAFQAFQAQA 'PAY 25 00 DOLLARS CENTS THE XYZ CORP AUTHORIZEDSIGNATURE OOOOOO OOOGOOOOOOOOOO Deor Stockholder,

Financial Statement Soles Costs Gross Profit Profii After Taxes 35 .XX

We are looking forward to continued good business.

Sincerely Presideni OOOOOOOOOOOOOO FIG.

INVENTORS RICHARD A. BENSLER SR.

ROBERT W. MITCHELL AGENT Sept. 26, 1967 R. A. B'ENSLER, SR, ETAL CARDDOCUMENTS FIG. 2

Filed Dec. 22, 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 i 2 O I I -I\ 33 I I 33 9 I E %I/"54 I 34 %I 1 r I O 55 35-- 1 E I .36-'-O/5 1 i 3Io I I I 0 o I o o E Io as --o I I O I o I I o i I o 4o-----'I i O I O 42- I o H i o ---;f w nu m H i.

O I NOTICE OF PAST DUE PAYMENT I O ---P XYZ I 35 O E I; CHARGE ACCOUNTPLAN YOUR ACCOUNT IS STILI. PAST DUE li ,l T- 32 *W D t "*43 I JOHN DOEIPAY THIS AMOUNT 1 ,i-6 33 55/ i 6 ANY TOWN G i [ACCOUNT NUMBER Us A16.08 W

u I --35 as i I i i I //O I I [1 1 I O 37 I q IF PAYMENT HAS BEEN MADE nI Lafl 36 O 0*"37 58 [PLEASE DISREGARD nus NOTICE MAKE CHECK PAYABLE 1 iI q THANK YOU TO XYZ i o O I 39 Dear Sir, I O I This is your secondnoilce ond your account is siiii overdue. I O

I Unless we receive your payment promptly, your supply of I O I widgetswiii be cut off. Deioch ond moli cord with your poymeni. I O O ISincereiy O I l I C I Credii Manager 5 O O O l o I i o R. A. BENSLER,sR.. ETAL 3,343,851

CARD DOCUMENTS 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Sept. 26, 1967 Filed Dec. 22, 1965 FIG.4

United States Patent C) 3,343,851 CARD DOCUMENTS Richard A. Bensler,Sr., Vestal, and Robert W. Mitchell, Binghamton, N.Y., assignors toInternational Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, N.Y., a corporationof New York Filed Dec. 22, 1965, Ser. No. 515,633 1 Claim. (Cl. 281-)ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A document assembly comprising a continuousweb of severable pre-printed identical form letters with each formletter having detachably connected thereto a machine processible recordcard having fixed information relating to the pre-printed information onthe form letters and variable information relating to customers.

Brief summary of the invention In the present invention a series ofrecord cards, each record card having severable stub portions, arespaced apart and have their stub portions attached to a continuous paperweb provided with severable carrier strips having feeding wheelperforations to permit successively feeding said record cards throughthe print station of a business machine. The record cards may be spacedany desired distance apart and the paper web may be divided intoindividual severable forms or sections so that a card may be attached toeach form. This permits the printing of data on the individual forms orsections as Well as on the individual record cards as the continuouspaper web is fed through a suitable printing machine, the data printedon each form being related to the data printed on the record cardattached thereto.

The record cards may be provided with two, three or four severablestubs. There is at least one stub at each end of the card which isprovided with feeding wheel perforations which coincide with those inthe carrier strips of the web. The two stub card is only attached at thecarrier strips and removal of the carrier strips will separate the cardfrom the paper web. The three or four stub cards are attached to theseverable forms or sections as well as the carrier strips and removal ofthe carrier strips will not separate the cards from the paper web. Thepaper web may consist of either regular bond paper or like materialwhich will not produce a duplicate copy of the attached card or of animpact type action paper which will produce a duplicate copy of theattached card.

Attaching a series of individual record cards to the severable carrierstrips of a continuous web allows the cards to be economically andspeedily processed through a. printing machine to have data recordedthereon after which the cards may be separated simply by tearing awaythe carrier strips of the web.

Where the three or four stub cards are attached to the severable formsor sections of the web, card documents are economically and speedilyproduced which are adapted for mailing to customers and the like andwhich are extremely useful in many types of business applications suchas, for example, accounts receivable and accounts payable. Afterprinting, the web may be easily converted into the individual carddocuments by removing the carrier strips and by tearing the forms orsections along the line of perforations which extend transversely acrossthe web and which define the top and bottom edges of the forms. Theprinted data on each form may take the form of a letter to a customerand the card attached thereto may be a printed check which can beseparated and kept by the customer or a printed bill which may beseparated by the customer and mailed back with his remittance.

Accordingly, a principal object of the present invention is to provide acontinuous form adapted to be processed through a printing machine andthen separated into individual card documents.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a continuous webhaving pin feeding carrier strips to which a series of spaced-apartrecord cards are attached to facilitate processing of said cards througha printing machine after which the printed cards may be individuallyseparated from the web by removing the carrier strips.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide acontinuous web having pin feeding carrier strips and divided intoseverable forms or sections to which a series of spaced-apart recordcards are attached to facilitate the recording of data on said forms andrecord cards.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a continuous webhaving pin feeding carrier strips and divided into severable forms orsections to which a series of spaced-apart record cards are removablyattached, there being one record card removably attached to eachseverable form to facilitate the recording of related data on each formand the card attached thereto.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a documentfor mailing which comprises a form and a record card removably attachedthereto, there being related printed information on said form and card.

The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of theinvention will be apparent from the following more particulardescription of preferred embodiments of the invention, as illustrated inthe accompanying drawings.

Brief description of the several views of the drawings FIG. 1 is a planview of an individual web form with record card attached ready formailing.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a series of four stub record cards securedin position on the severable forms or sections of a continuous web.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a series of two stub record cards securedin position on a continuous web.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a series of three stub record cardssecured in position on a continuous web.

Detailed description Referring first to FIG. 3, there is shown a seriesof two spaced-apart record cards 10 on a continuous paper web 11. Thetwo shorter or side edges of each card each has a stub portion 12secured thereto by a line of perforations 13 so that the stub portionsand cards may be easily separated. The stub portions 12 of the cardseach has arranged longitudinally thereon a row of pin feed perforations14 and when the record cards are positioned on the web, the feedperforations 14 on the stubs will coincide with similar pin feedperforations 15 arranged along each margin of the web 11 to facilitatefeeding the Web and cards through a printing machine or the like. Thecards are fastened to the web by pairs of glue stripes 16 which extendalong the margins of the web and inwardly from the edges of the web sothat they adhere to the card stubs 12 along a line which is between theline of perforations 13 and the row of feed perforations 14. Individualcard documents are obtained simply by peeling or removing the individualcards 10 from their stub portions 12. Lines of weakness 17 extendtransversely across the web in between adjacent cards to facilitatezig-zag folding of the web. Individual card documents may also be formedby bursting the web along the lines of weakness 17.

Referring to FIG. 4, there is shown another embodiment wherein a seriesof three stub record cards 18 are spaced apart on a continuous paper web19. The shorter left-hand side edge of each card has a stub portion 20secured thereto by a line of perforations 21 and the shorter right-handside edge of each card has a stub portion 22 secured to it by a line ofperforations 23. Additionally, each stub portion 22 has another stubportion 24 secured thereto by a line of weakness 25. The stub portions20 and 24 of the cards each has arranged longitudinally thereon a row ofpin feed perforations 26 and when the record cards are positioned on theweb, the feed perforations 26 on the stubs will coincide with similarpin feed perforations 27 arranged along each margin of the web 19 tofacilitate feeding the web and cards through a printing machine or thelike. The cards are fastened to the web by three lines of glue stripes28 which extend along the web and inwardly from the edges of the web sothat one line adheres to the card stubs 20 along a line which is betweenthe line of perforations 21 and the row of feed perforations 26, anotherline adheres to the card stubs 22 along a line which is between the lineof perforations 23 and the line of weakness 25, and the third lineadheres to the card stubs 24 along a line which is between the line ofweakness 25 and the row of pin feed perforations 26.

To facilitate the separation of the continuous form into individual carddocuments a line of Weakness 29 is provided along each margin of thepaper web, the lines of weakness 29 coinciding with the lines ofperforations 21 and the lines of weakness 25 when the cards arepositioned on the web. Lines of Weakness 33' are also provided whichextend transversely across the web either in between adjacent cards orin between equal groups of cards to facilitate zig-zag folding of theweb. The use of a three stub card makes it possible to remove themarginal carrier strip portions of the web and the stub portions 20 and24 of the cards without separating the cards from the paper web. If thelines of weakness 30 across the web are positioned in between each pairof adjacent cards, the continuous web may be further separated intoindividual paper forms each one of which has a record card 18 attachedthereto at the severable stub portion 22. By making the web 19 out of animpact type action paper, each form will carry a duplicate copy of whatis printed on its attached record card 18. There is thus produced a carddocument which is useful in many applications such as, for example,where it is desired to mail the document to a customer so that he canseparate the card and return it with a remittance or make some otherdisposable use of the card and at the same time retain the duplicateslip for his files. By varying the distance between the transverse linesof weakening 30, longer individual forms may be produced having aplurality of record cards 18 attached to each one.

In FIG. 2, there is shown a continuous paper web 31 having a series ofspaced-apart four stub record cards 32 attached thereto. The two shorteror side edges of each card each has a stub portion 33 secured thereto bya line of perforations 34 so that the stub portions and cards may beeasily separated. Each stub portion 33 is further connected to'a stubportion 35 by a line of weakness 36. The stub portions 35 of the cardseach has arranged longitudinally thereon a row of pin feed perforations37 and when the record cards are positioned on the web, the feedperforations 37 on the stubs will coincide with similar pin feedperforations 38 arranged along each margin of the web 31 to facilitatefeeding the web and cards through a printing machine or the like. Thecards 32 are fastened to the web by four lines of glue stripes 39 whichextend along the web and inwardly from the edges of the web so that oneline adheres to the card stubs 33 along a line which is between the lineof perforations 34 and the line of weakness 36, and another line adheresto the card stubs 35 along a line which is between the line of weakness36 and the row pin feed perforations 37.

As in the case of the embodiments shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a line ofWeakness 40 is provided along each margin of the paper web 31, the linesof weakness 40 coinciding with the lines of weakness 36 when the cardsare positioned on the web. Lines of weakness 41 are also provided whichextend transversely across the web adjacent each card to facilitatezig-zag folding and to allow for separation of the web into individualforms.

It will be noted that in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the recordcards 32 are spaced farther apart along the web so that each record cardwill be attached near the top of an individual form or section 42. Thetop and bottom edges of the forms 42 are defined by the transverse linesof weakness 41 and the forms are made sufficiently long so that eachform can carry a record card on one portion and pre-printed informationon the remaining portion. Of course, the length of form used can bevaried depending, for example, on how much preprinted information isdesired. The pro-printed information on each form 42 preferably bears arelationship to the record card attached thereto. In the example shownin FIG. 2, there is shown an accounts receivable application wherein thepro-printed information is in the form of a letter to a customer and therecord card attached adjacent to the information has printed thereon theparticular customers name and address, account number, amount of paymentdue, etc., and in addition, may carry the well-known index perforations43 used for machine accounting purposes. Upon separation of the web intothe individual forms 42 with the record cards attached, the forms aremailed to the customers who detach the cards and return them with theirremittances.

In a preferred method of producing the card document forms, thecontinuous web 31 is first pre-printed in all of the form sections 42with the same information or form letter after which the cards 32 areattached to the web. The web is then passed through a printing machineand the customer information is printed on each card. After printing,the web is passed through a suitable burster device which peels off theseverable side margins of the web and the stub portions 35 of the cards.The Web is then separated along the transverse lines of weakness 41 toproduce the individual card documents ready for mailing to thecustomers. To return the record card the customer simply tears the cardalong the lines of perforations 34 to separate same from the stubportions 33 and form 42.

In FIG. 1, there is shown another application for a card document formconstructed in the same manner as the form of FIG. 2. In thisapplication, the form 44 is pre-printed with information relating to acompany financial statement to be mailed to a stockholder and thedetachable card 45 takes the form of a dividend check. The severablecard stubs 46 and marginal strips 47 of the form may be left on as shownor removed prior to mailing of the document to the customer.

It will be understood that the printed documents shown in FIGS. 1 and 2illustrate only two of many applications for which such a document wouldbe-useful and advantageous. Also, if desired, the documents shown inFIGS. 1 and 2 could make use of the three stub card shown in FIG. 4instead of a four stub card. The card documents need not be madecontinuous and then separated after machine processing. The forms andattached cards may be precut and assembled individually and individuallyrecorded on by insertion in a typewriter or the like.

Another important feature of the present document assembly resides inthe fact that the well-known rectangular record cards are provided withtheir severable stub portions joined only to the shorter sides or edgesof the cards. This leaves the longer edges of the precut cards clean andunbroken and this is most desirable since these cards are fed long edgefirst when they are processed through record card accounting machines.

While the invention has been particularly shown and described withreference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood bythose skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may bemade therein without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention.

What is claimed is:

A document assembly comprising,

a continuous paper web having detachable marginal carrier stripsprovided with pin feed perforations to facilitate machine processing ofthe Web, said carrier strips being connected to the web by lines ofWeakness,

a series of transverse lines of weakness spaced apart on said web fordividing the web into individual severable identical form letters eachform letter comprising a corresponding blank portion and adjacentpre-printed data portion,

a series of spaced apart machine processible record cards mounted onsaid web, there being one record card superimposed over the blankportion on each form letter, said record cards having pre-printed fixedinformation which relates to the information on the adjacent pre-printeddata portion of said form letters and recorded variable informationrelating to customers,

detachable stub portions connected to the side edges of each record cardby line of Weakness and provided with pin feed perforations, the pinfeed perforations and lines of Weakness of said stub portions coincidingrespectively with the pin feed perforations and lines of weakness ofsaid marginal carrier strips of the web,

means for fastening said detachable stub portions to said detachablemarginal carrier strips of the Web whereby said stub portions andcarrier strips may be separated concurrently from the Web, and

means for detachably fastening each record card to the blank portion ofits respective form letter Whereby removal of said stub portions andcarrier strips and separation of the web along said transverse line ofweakness will produce individual mailable preprinted form letters eachhaving one of said record cards detachably fastened thereto adjacent tothe pre-printed data.

References Cited LAWRENCE CHARLES, Primary Examiner.

